'It's not just about the pipelines': Former B.C. premier Christy Clark says blocking Trans Mountain is ’illegal’

'In this country, we set rules. We set goal posts. And you can't change them halfway through,' she said

“In this country, we set rules. We set goal posts. And you can’t change them halfway through,” Clark said to a well-attended event at the Manning Networking Conference.Chad Hipolito / The Canadian Press

British Columbia’s efforts to block the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion are illegal and will hurt all of Canada, says the former B.C. premier who originally approved the interprovincial project.

The way B.C.’s New Democrat government is handling Trans Mountain is putting future jobs at risk, Christy Clark told a gathering of conservatives in Ottawa on Saturday.

“In this country, we set rules. We set goal posts. And you can’t change them halfway through,” she said to a well-attended event at the Manning Networking Conference.

“It’s not just about the pipelines. It’s not just about natural gas. It’s about all of the jobs and all of the people who are going to find themselves out of work when investors around the world don’t want to come to Canada anymore.”

B.C. has called for more consultation on oil spill readiness in response to Kinder Morgan Canada’s $7.4-billion proposal, which would triple the capacity of an existing line running from near Edmonton to Burnaby.

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley has responded by calling B.C.’s attempt to stop the federally approved project “unconstitutional,” and has since cut off her province’s imports of wine from its western neighbour.

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley announces on Tuesday February 6, 2018 that Alberta will boycott all wine from British Columbia in response to the B.C. government’s delay of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.LARRY WONG /
POSTMEDIA

Alberta has also said it will not negotiate to import electricity from B.C., including that produced by the Site C hydroelectric megaproject on the Peace River.

Notley also announced Friday the creation of a high-profile task force aimed at defending Alberta jobs from B.C.’s “attack” on Trans Mountain, although she has not specified how the group will act.

United Conservative Party Leader Jason Kenney has applauded Notley’s retaliation against B.C. and called for further actions, including imposing tolls on natural gas that flows to the United States through Alberta.

Speaking on Saturday at the Manning conference, Kenney called out B.C. for undermining Trans Mountain, describing the besieged project as emblematic of a more widespread campaign against Canada’s energy sector.

“That industry, that engine of our prosperity is under massive attack,” Kenney said, singling out B.C.’s “anti-development” government as a leader in the anti-energy movement.

“This industry has helped to raise countless Canadians up from despair to hope and opportunity,” he added.

The Trans Mountain proposal would result in an estimated sevenfold increase in tanker traffic along B.C.’s heavily populated South Coast.

Clark’s speech in Ottawa marked her first public address since she stepped down as leader of the B.C. Liberals last July, after the B.C. New Democrats formed a minority government with the backing of the provincial Green party.

Clark spoke Saturday about the importance of working with First Nations on resource development, and of resource-sharing with Indigenous communities.

“They are the single most important piece in the pipeline debate,” Clark said.

“If we want to get our resources out to market, we have some incredibly powerful voices on our side. So, let’s fight with them.”